By Bellah Zulu, ACNS, reporting from Johannesburg 

The Anglican Church of Southern Africa (ACSA) has awarded two lay Anglicans with the Order of Simon of Cyrene  – its highest award for laity – for distinguished service to the Church.

Sakumzi Macozoma, a business leader and philanthropist, and Gail Allen, the Provincial Administrative Officer, received the award yesterday during the opening session of the ACSA’s Provincial Synod in Johannesburg, South Africa. 

The Archbishop referred to the awards during his address to Provincial Synod and noted that people may be called to serve God in many ways from “faithful service in the structures of the church” through to being “salt and light in the highest echelons of our country’s movers and shakers”.

For a quarter of a century, Mrs Gail Allen has worked for the Church’s central structure in Southern Africa, including “ensuring the smooth running of more Synods than we can count”. The Church praised her for her “conscientious commitment, hard work, and eye for detail” and for being an “an adept and effective administrator”.  

“This award is very special to me because I didn’t expect to receive it,” said the visibly elated Mrs Allen. “I love what I do and always have. I enjoy the work of executive office. Though at first it was just a mere job to me, I ended up falling in love with it.”

She added that she enjoyed her calling so much that there have been times when she was supposed to be on leave, but instead chose to do God's work.

Mr Macozoma is a lifelong member of the Anglican Church and has served the South African Council of Churches. He has played an important role in the country’s political history and landscape. He has also been a strong supporter and contributor to a large array of social and academic causes in South Africa.

Expressing his gratitude for the honour, Mr Macozoma said there were many issues in the world today that required the intervention of the Church. He echoed the Primate's comment that there can be no progress on any issue unless “our children are better educated”. 

The Order of Simon of Cyrene was established in 1960 when it was authorised for distinguished lay service to the Anglican Church of Southern Africa, then called Church of the Province of Southern Africa. It was established during the reign of Archbishop Joost de Blank, following a proposal by Bishop Robert Selby Taylor. The Order is named after Simon of Cyrene, the first African saint.